Private troubles to public issue

Alcohol is the number three contributor to the burden of disease worldwide so must remain a priority health promotion issue internationally. Malaysia is a Muslim country and alcohol-related harm was not seen as a priority until recently, because it only affects a minority of the population. Sabah has more than 30 different ethnic groups, and alcohol has a traditional role in the cultural practices of many of these groups. In 2009, the Intervention Group for Alcohol Misuse (IGAM) was formed, under the umbrella of Mercy Malaysia by a group of healthcare workers, academics, members of the Clergy and people who were previously alcohol-dependent concerned about the harmful effects of excessive alcohol consumption. IGAM in collaboration with other bodies have organized public seminars, visited villages and schools, encouraged the formation of a support group and trained healthcare professionals in health promotion intervention. The focus later changed to empowering communities to find solutions to alcohol-related harm in their community in a way which is sensitive to their culture. A standard tool-kit was developed using WHO materials as a guide. Village committees were formed and adapted the toolkit according to their needs. This strategy has been shown to be effective, in that 90% of the 20 committees formed are actively and successfully involved in health promotion to reduce alcohol-related harm in their communities.

Business · Environmental health · Ethnic group · Focus group · Harm · Harm reduction · Health care · Health promotion · Indigenous · Intervention (counseling) · Political science · Population · Promotion (chess) · Public health · Alcohol Consumption and Health Effects · Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research · Law · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology · Social Psychology · Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes

• Process evaluation of the Belgian one-month-without alcohol campaign ‘Tournée Minérale’

  Open Access•Annelies Thienpondt, Jelle Van Cauwenberg et al.•BMC Public Health•2024

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• Global burden of disease and injury and economic cost attributable to alcohol use and alcohol-use disorders

  Open Access•Jurgen Rehm, Clay Mathers et al.•The Lancet•2009

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• The relation between different dimensions of alcohol consumption and burden of disease

  Open Access•Jurgen Rehm, Dolly Baliunas et al.•Addiction•2010

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• Towards a new public health

  Open Access•Halfdan Mahler•Health Promotion International•1986

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• Project Northland

  Cheryl L Perry, Christopher l Williams et al.•American Journal of Public Health•1996

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